Unlicensed software and malware are tightly linked
Risky business: Malware threats from unlicensed software
A recent study entitled “Unlicensed Software and Cybersecurity Threats” commissioned by BSA The Software Alliance confirmed the link between unlicensed software and malware on PCs.
“The study’s results showed that there is a strong positive correlation between unlicensed software and malware encounters - the higher the unlicensed software rate in a country, the more malware generally encountered on PCs in that country, and vice versa. In statistical terms, the correlation between unlicensed software and malware is even higher than the correlation between smoking and lung cancer, and higher than the correlation between education and income. For Vietnam, this is a sign that warrants serious attention,” said Roland Chan, Senior Director, Compliance Program, Asia Pacific, BSA.
According to the report, in 2013 the unlicensed software rate for the US was 18 percent and the malware encounter rate averaged 13 percent per quarter. In Indonesia, the figures were 84 percent and 44 percent. In Vietnam they are 81 percent and 32 percent.
“The employment of unlicensed software places organizations, both domestic and foreign, at risk of a cybersecurity attack. This illegal software simply does not have the necessary safeguards in place when compared to licensed software, which would normally benefit from regular updates to counter any security loopholes that may exist. The cybersecurity threat may include malware intrusions, some of which may result in further security loopholes that allow hackers to enter a network. Studies have shown that enterprises using illegal software will have a 73 percent higher risk of losing important data, and a higher risk of virus infection,” added Chan.
It is time to use genuine software and good software management
According to Colonel Nguyen Van Thinh, deputy head of the Department of Cyber Security under the Ministry of Public Security, Vietnam has recently become the main target of a series of large-scale cyber spying activities such as LURID, Operation Shady RAT and the Byzantine Hades attacks. In 2014 alone, the ministry had discovered that nearly 6,000 Vietnamese online news pages and online news portals were attacked, losing administrative rights and its contents were amended. Out of them, 246 pages were of government’s agencies, ending with the domain name gov.vn.
Typically, 745 websites in Vietnam were attacked in one week from late August to early September 2014. Another attack on a series of large websites by hackers in five days from October 13-18, 2014 recently caused enterprises using VCCorp’s data center a loss of billions of Vietnamese dongs.
Roland Chan, Senior Director, Compliance Program, Asia Pacific, BSA, “In my viewpoint, given the clear link between cybersecurity threats and unlicensed software, one of the simplest ways for enterprises and governments to better safeguard their assets is to ensure that the software they are running is genuine and fully licensed. Ensuring the software installed on IT systems is licensed and comes from a legitimate source is a good first line of defense.” |
To lower cybersecurity risks, BSA encourages organizations to implement internal controls, such as ISO-aligned software asset management (SAM) practices, in order to reduce their exposure to cyber threats by ensuring all software installed on their systems is fully licensed.
For enterprises, governments, and consumers, the obvious implication is that one way to lower cybersecurity risks is to reduce the use of unlicensed software. Doing so requires implementing effective software management policies and procedures and investing resources in increasing awareness of the potential dangers associated with using unlicensed software. The dangers lurk in malware that can be embedded in the software, in the sites and sources from which the malware is obtained, and in the reluctance of users of unlicensed software to install security updates. But the evidence shows that unlicensed software is clearly associated with security threats from malware - the global costs of which run into the hundreds of billions of dollars a year.
By Minh Ly
See also

Managed security provides IT talent gap solution for businesses in SEA
16:34 | 30/01/2023 Information technology

Headquarters of Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology inaugurated
09:23 | 30/01/2023 Science - Technology

WHO to share mRNA vaccine technology with VietNam
09:14 | 30/01/2023 Science - Technology

Welcoming the year of digital data for Vietnam
16:57 | 22/01/2023 Digitalization

Vietnamese animation studio won legal case on copyright infridgement in Russia
11:14 | 11/01/2023 Startups

Top 10 ICT developments in 2022
06:00 | 11/01/2023 Information technology
See more news

First retrofitted Emirates A380 enters service
17:41 | 10/01/2023 Science - Technology

Cybersecurity resilience emerges as top priority for Vietnamese organizations
15:39 | 05/01/2023 Information technology

Customs sector leads in IT application
06:00 | 05/01/2023 Digitalization

“Striking” Differences – New Research Helps Explain Why Obesity Is More Dangerous for Men
06:00 | 03/01/2023 Science - Technology

State, Party award scientific, cultural excellence
06:00 | 22/12/2022 Science - Technology

Protecting intellectual property
06:00 | 09/12/2022 Science - Technology

Vietnam, a high potential blockchain market
06:00 | 07/12/2022 Digitalization

FortiGuard Labs predicts the convergence of advanced persistent threat methods with cybercrime
10:20 | 25/11/2022 Information technology

Boosting grid stability through LM2500XPRESS gas turbine technology
16:49 | 22/11/2022 Science - Technology

New sci-tech goals of industry and trade sector
06:00 | 19/11/2022 Science - Technology

Deputy FM highlights role of economic diplomacy in service of national development
11:05 | 01/02/2023 Policy

73rd anniversary of Việt Nam-Russia diplomatic ties marked
11:00 | 01/02/2023 Vietnam and EU

Mong Cai international border gate busy after Tet holiday
10:52 | 01/02/2023 Foreign trade

State-owned banks under capital increase pressure
10:52 | 01/02/2023 Finance-Banking

Vietnam plans to attract Chinese tourists
07:00 | 01/02/2023 Tourism
Multimedia

Vietnam plans to attract Chinese tourists
07:00 | 01/02/2023 Tourism

Dutch diplomat donates Vietnamese paintings to national museum
06:00 | 01/02/2023 Lifestyle

Key missions, solutions to socio-economic development in 2023
07:00 | 01/02/2023 Infographic

Cuc Phuong National Park among leading national parks in Asia
09:50 | 31/01/2023 Infographic

Tet impressive in foreign ambassadors' eyes
14:49 | 30/01/2023 Lifestyle

Deputy FM highlights role of economic diplomacy in service of national development
11:05 | 01/02/2023 Policy

Việt Nam supports expansion of UN Security Council
06:00 | 30/01/2023 Policy

Prime Minister assigns tasks to Deputy Prime Ministers
07:00 | 17/01/2023 Policy

Taking advantage of growth opportunities: Party leader
09:18 | 04/01/2023 Policy

Vietnam to reduce environmental impact of textile-garment industry by 2030
06:00 | 01/02/2023 Industry

Binh Lieu mountain region powers up
06:00 | 28/01/2023 Province

Steel industry to gradually recover in 2023
15:48 | 27/01/2023 Industry

Quang Ninh ships first tonne of coal on first day of Lunar New Year
18:16 | 23/01/2023 Energy

January FDI nears US$1.7 billion
14:46 | 31/01/2023 FDI

Viet Nam calls for more investment in green growth
16:52 | 22/01/2023 FDI

Hanoi attracts nearly US$1.7 billion in FDI in 2022
17:43 | 03/01/2023 Metropolis

FDI disbursement exceeds US$20 billion
06:00 | 01/01/2023 FDI

State-owned banks under capital increase pressure
10:52 | 01/02/2023 Finance-Banking

Positive prospects for Vietnam’s stock market this year
14:48 | 31/01/2023 Stock Market

Positive 2023 securities market forecasts
06:00 | 20/01/2023 Stock Market

Banking sector stable, but challenges abound
06:00 | 16/01/2023 Finance-Banking

Vietnam looks ahead to 2023 climate summit
06:00 | 25/12/2022 Environment

Preserving nature, facilitating business
06:00 | 10/12/2022 Environment

AkzoNobel Vietnam protects Cu Lao Xanh lighthouse against harsh weather
11:40 | 24/11/2022 Environment

JTI Vietnam commits to net zero greenhouse gas emissions
16:25 | 15/11/2022 Environment

Managed security provides IT talent gap solution for businesses in SEA
16:34 | 30/01/2023 Information technology

Headquarters of Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology inaugurated
09:23 | 30/01/2023 Science - Technology

WHO to share mRNA vaccine technology with VietNam
09:14 | 30/01/2023 Science - Technology

Welcoming the year of digital data for Vietnam
16:57 | 22/01/2023 Digitalization

PM inspects national key transport projects
09:36 | 31/01/2023 Society

A great chance to invest in commercial property
10:46 | 30/01/2023 Property

Prime Minister launches New Year tree planting festival
15:36 | 27/01/2023 Society

Vietnamese celebrate Tet overseas
09:00 | 26/01/2023 Society

Nestlé Vietnam and the journey to sustainable development
13:00 | 10/01/2023 Companies

VIMC embarks on strong recovery
06:00 | 10/01/2023 Companies

MM Mega Market launches a new modern Giá tốt business model
16:18 | 30/12/2022 Vietnamese Brands

PVCFC develops experts’ system
08:00 | 25/12/2022 Vietnamese Brands

Dutch diplomat donates Vietnamese paintings to national museum
06:00 | 01/02/2023 Lifestyle

Tet impressive in foreign ambassadors' eyes
14:49 | 30/01/2023 Lifestyle

Norwegian Ambassador experiences Vietnamese Tet traditions
06:00 | 28/01/2023 Lifestyle

Chau Ma brocade lives on
06:00 | 27/01/2023 Lifestyle

Vietnam plans to attract Chinese tourists
07:00 | 01/02/2023 Tourism

The lure of Pu Luong
06:00 | 31/01/2023 Entertainment

Tourism is back, big time
06:00 | 30/01/2023 Tourism

Trang A Chu’s unique homestay
06:00 | 29/01/2023 Entertainment